Armstrong Signs Extension

Dolphin Gets 5 Years, $8.9m

October 13, 1995|By JASON COLE Staff Writer

DAVIE - — The Dolphins were so disappointed with life without defensive end Trace Armstrong that they made sure he'd be around for a while.

Armstrong signed a five-year, $8.9 million contract extension Monday, assuring that he would be with the team through 2000. Armstrong may be a backup, but his value has become obvious. The Dolphins missed him Sunday in a 27-24 loss to Indianapolis, when he was limited to a handful of downs because of a knee injury.

Armstrong declined to discuss the deal, citing an agreement with the Dolphins. Armstrong received a $1.42 million signing bonus and took a reduction in pay for the rest of the season. His salary cap number for this season rose slightly from $975,000 to $1.075 million.

"We're always happy to get a good player extended, especially if he's heading into his final season," General Manager Eddie Jones said.

Armstrong, who was to be a free agent at the end of the season, might have gotten more on the open market. But he's happy playing in Florida because he lives in Gainesville and the Dolphins had the right of first refusal because of a clause in his contract.

The Dolphins traded a secondand third-round pick to Chicago in April for Armstrong. The team was criticized for giving up too much for a player with only a year left on his contract.

But Armstrong is second on the team with 2 1/2 sacks and was a key to the Dolphins' pass rush in the first three games, when they recorded nine interceptions and seven sacks. Sunday, they couldn't protect a 21-point lead.

"He's what we hoped he would be when we traded for him," coach Don Shula said. "One of the things that hurt us was that he was only able to go about 10 plays [Sunday)."

FOR THE RECORD - ******CORRECTION PUBLISHED SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1995*****Because of a reporter's error, the salary cap figure for 1995 for Trace Armstrong remains the same in his new contract extension. It was incorrect in a story on page 1C in Friday's editions. We regret the error.

"He helps us a lot. He's a speed guy who makes us really flexible," said defensive end Jeff Cross, who starts ahead of Armstrong. Armstrong has given the Dolphins the chance to rest Cross and Coleman early in games.

The deal comes despite a nagging knee injury Armstrong suffered Oct. 1 in Cincinnati. He tried to play against the Colts, coming in on pass-rush downs only. The knee didn't cooperate and the Dolphins had to play most of the fourth quarter without him.

The Dolphins were forced to juggle their lineup in passing situations. At those times, the Dolphins normally have Armstrong at left end, Cross at tackle, Coleman at right end and Bryan Cox lining up wherever he likes, usually between the tackle and the ends. The team considers that its best pass-rush combination.

"I've compared him to being a John Offerdahl-type playing the defensive line. He has that kind of intensity," said Shula, comparing Armstrong to the former Pro Bowl linebacker.

Without Armstrong, Cross was shifted back to left end and Steve Emtman took over at tackle. The Dolphins, worried about Colts quarterback Jim Harbaugh's scrambling ability, rushed conservatively. Cross said the result was that he got too much time to throw.

"We were too concerned about him scrambling," Cross said. "Yeah, you've got to be responsible for your assignment, but we got too concerned with it. A guy like that, with the lead we had, isn't going to beat you if he runs for a few yards. If he has a lot of time to throw, which he did, he can beat you."

In addition, the Dolphins' pass rush, particularly Cross, Cox and Coleman, came upfield too far. That created too much space in the middle of the field for Emtman to cover and Harbaugh took advantage. Harbaugh stepped up in the pocket to throw his second and third touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, sending the game into overtime.

That's where Armstrong comes in handy. By having Cross inside and Armstrong outside, the Dolphins have a quicker player to watch the middle and a better speed rusher to close on the quarterback.

"That's the situation for your speed guys," said Cross, who is happy with the alignment even though he doesn't have a sack.

"Trace helps a lot because he's a lot like Jeff, he can go with an inside rush or an outside rush," Coleman said.